Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-03-24
J0HNS0N'S HARD LUCK.
Stranded in London by tho Rogue,
j. Mildmay.

of building in London when one OF
the office boys from below came up and
said:
There's an American gentleman.
sir, wants 10 see YOU"
"Then. why don't you show him up"
"Well. sir, You see, sir, he don't look
like an American. He's"
"lf you will permit me Twill save the
boy from what might be an embarrass-
ing explanation. Have your permis-
sion To enter?"
Certainly, certainly-come-in take
. chair"
London Is not the lightest city in the
world. IL was rather murky that day.
and the door at the stairs was in semi
obScurity. Out of this gloom stepped
forward man whose clothing hung
around him in tatters He sat down
and placed ON the floor what was once
shat. "You wanted TO see me2" said.
"Yes. Ineed not lay that l do not
come on a social visit Twill not apol-
ogizc for following the boy here. for l
was afraid that otherwise j might not
gain admittance."
"Oh. that's all right I'm like my
friend. the President of the United
States. | see every body that calls.
might add-it may cut negotiations
short-thst like some United States
banks I've also suspended payment "
"You mean. l suppose. that you could
not assist me2"
Exactly. Ipass. l don't assist"
"How is that. sir?"
81 said passed. Don't you under
stand euchre terms2 You've played
euchve. haven't tyou3"
"I never play cards"
you're remarkable American.
then"
IL do not come to beg. but l need Il
little temporary help-a loan-l have
been-"
"Why don't you go to the American
Consult"
IL have been there. sir. and the
answer given me was that the United
States placed no funds at his disposal
for the relief of American citizens"
"Do you know that the American
Government has at this moment some
hundreds of millions in the treasury
that it don't know what to do with?'
Il believe that is true, and it"
"Well. don't YOU see that IL so rich
a Government can not afford to have a
fund for the relief Of Americans that II is
not TO be expected that lcould start a re-
lief expedition on my own account"
81 think could explain TO your sat-
isiaction that you would receive back
your loan. A private individual is not
so high and mighty rs Government
official"
''In other words, you think you can
bamboozle me easier than the Consul.
All right. O. ahead"
"Oh. not at all. I don't wish to
bamboozle anybody. Now, in the first
place. haven't a letter or a paper OF
Identification. Most swindlcrs are well
provided with documents.
.'Yes. that strengthens your case.
etill YOU must have had something OF
that kind. Not over here on pleasure,
Ipresume9"
"Din't look like il, do I9 Still. that
f. what came over for. My name is
johnson. am from New York. i
was stopping at the British Eagle Hotel
and cot acquainted with man who
said his name was M.ldmay-John. i
think-perhaps James-anyway. il be-
gan with J-J. Mildmay. Well. we
got very friendly, Mildmay and i. and
went around London good deal to-
gether. Mildmay didn't stop ut the
British Eagle-just took his meals
there. Told me where he roomed. but
I've forgotten. After we had seen the
usual sights, Mildmay proposed we
would 90 'slumming'-see how the
poor lived and that sort of thing.
Were to do the thieves quarter aud see
The criminal classes where they stayed.
Mildmay said he'd show me- the biggest
thief in London. and he did. although
i didn't know it at the time. Well. he
said. we'd better leave all our valu-
.ble's a, his bankers ! agreed. and
then he looked at his watch and said
the bank would be closed before we
got there. so / propo ed wc woald
leave them in my room. He asked to
leave his things there too. and he did
his watch and purse and all that--i
locked them up in my trunk and we
started with only the keys in my
pocket. He had some loose change
and said whatever expenses there were